After graduation, he joined the Kohler Company full-time and, in 1972, was appointed chief executive officer.
In 1998, Kohler added 36 holes at Whistling Straits, also in Wisconsin, which has hosted the PGA Championship in 2004, 2010 and 2015, the U.S. Senior Open in 2007, and the Ryder Cup in 2021.
It has an area of 32,000 square feet (3,000 m2) and is designed to have a low environmental impact, using features such as solar panels, composting, and a greenhouse heated with used cooking oil.
The KEC is situated on a 266 acres (108 ha) plot of forest and wetlands, which can be incorporated into classes focused on the environment.
[19] In 1985, Linda married Roger Anderson, retired chairman and CEO of Continental Illinois.
[16] Kohler appeared in the film Open Range, which starred and was directed by his friend Kevin Costner.
[20] His second wife was Natalie Black, a Stanford University graduate who joined Kohler in 1985 as a lawyer, rising to general counsel and senior vice president of communications.